Best Historic Monument: Goliad Mission

March 31, 2013 at 8:03 p.m.Updated March 30, 2013 at 10:31 p.m.

Stepping into the Goliad State Park is like stepping into history.

The state park is home to the Mission Nuestra Senora del Espiritu Santo de Zuniga. Across U.S. 183, the statue monument of General Ignacio Zaragoza is also a part of the park property. These two monuments help make the park so popular, said Beth Ellis, a park ranger at the park.

The Goliad missions was voted Best of the Best historic monument by the Advocate's readers.

"I find it gratifying that people are realizing the value of the site," she said. "We're an undiscovered gem."

Other than the missions, the state park is known for being part of the flyway when it comes to migratory birds. Ellis said people are attracted to the fact that the Spanish colonial era provided the underpinnings for the rest of Texas history.

"It's like that old line goes, 'if you forget your history you're doomed to repeat it,'" she said.